Unit RISE Goals

Office of Finance Strategic Plan

Develop strategic plan with impact and belonging goals within the Office of Finance.

Training and Development

Identify ongoing training opportunities and resources for professional development regarding I&B on campus. The Office of Finance DEIB Climate Survey results found that there is a gap in education and opportunities for professional development to strengthen/support a culture of Impact & Belonging. 

Climate Survey

Complete a climate survey of staff in Office of Graduate Studies, Office of National Defense Initiatives, and Self Graduate Programs to identify areas of needed growth or attention.

Audit Graduate Professional Development Resources and Presentations for Inclusion and Belonging

Complete a full audit of all current graduate professional development workshops and the Office of Graduate Studies supported resources to identify any areas of concern in materials that may not facilitate inclusion and belonging.

Libraries Climate Survey

Complete a Climate Survey for the Libraries to address worker innovation, creativity, and employee engagement. 

Civic Discourse Programming for KU Libraries and Campus Partners

Develop programming to foster a space for inclusive dialogue, critical thinking, and community engagement.

Develop Online International Learning Opportunities

Develop and pilot institutional support framework for Virtual Education/Collaborative Online International Learning (VE/COIL) at KU.

Improve Student Retention

The purpose is to retain students, faculty, and staff. The goal is to create opportunities to interact outside of the building and classroom. The focus will be on developing a sense of belonging within the School of Pharmacy.

Community Engagement

All patrons and members of School of Pharmacy need to know about opportunities to be a part of the greater KU and Lawrence community.

Hire Divisional Impact Advisor(s) and Identify Department DEI contacts

We seek to hire one impact advisor to align with each divisional associate dean. Then, we plan to recruit one representative from each department for DEI work (there are currently reps from about half of the departments).

Reduce DFW Rates; Improve Retention

We want to reduce DFW rates for first and second-year students. We particularly want to work on retaining students between their first and second years.

Survey of Faculty Diversity

Identify trends of CLAS hiring and retention by various metrics. Determine whether CLAS is comparable with other KU Schools or peer institutions, and establish where we can improve.

First-Year Student Retention

With increased freshmen class sizes over the last two years, the School of Journalism and Mass Communications (SJMC) is committed to retaining first-year students. 

Access to Services and Resources

Provide equitable access to Office of Research services and resources across the KU Lawrence and Edwards campuses.

Assess Unit Climate

Assess current Office of Research climate and identify opportunities to enhance sense of community and belonging.

Increase Enrollment of First-Time Freshmen from Underrepresented Communities

This goal focuses on increasing enrollment of first-time freshmen from underrepresented communities. In addition to data-driven decision-making, we will accomplish this goal by offering regular financial literacy workshops tailored to the needs of prospective students and their families; Ensure all communication and recruitment materials intentionally reflect KU as a welcoming community, and expand Spanish-language resources.

Administer a Comprehensive Climate Survey and Present Key Findings

With the help of KU HRM, conduct a unit-wide climate study to assess the current culture of the unit.

Student Success & Retention

Assure first-generation student retention and completion through intentional student support and engagement efforts aligned with national best practices.

IRISE Values for Healthy and Vibrant Communities

Implement a coordinated strategy to communicate and demonstrate the KU IRISE values to our colleagues in Academic Success.

Inclusive Professional Development

Expand training programs focused on general belonging, success, access, respect, cultural competency, and respectful engagement to support a positive workplace environment.

Enhancing Workplace Culture

Improve workplace culture through initiatives focused on respect, belonging, and collaboration

Employee Recruitment & Retention

Strengthen recruitment and retention efforts by adopting practices that support vibrant department with staff members of varied experiences and viewpoints.

Employee Appreciation and Recognition

The intention of this goal is to promote a culture of appreciation and recognition in the School of Engineering, particularly for student, staff, and faculty employees. This intention is to be accomplished through first understanding what practices already exist, evaluating where there are gaps, and then implementing changes – including new practices to fill those gaps.

Expand Research and Education Opportunities to Broaden Participation in Engineering

The intention of this goal is to create opportunities for more people in the School to become actively involved in advancing impact and belonging efforts. These intentions are to be realized through new projects, strong lines of communication, and collaborative committee meetings that engage students, staff and faculty.

Implement Findings from the 2024 Climate Survey

The intention of this goal is to use the results from the 2024 climate survey to advance inclusivity and equity amongst students, staff, and faculty.

Employee Retention via Operation SUMMIT

Supervisory Unification through Management, Mentorship, Innovation, and Training

The goal of this program is to unify operations supervisors across all nine departments in KU Ops and help them reach new heights in leadership through active collaboration, comprehensive management skills, mentoring support, innovative practices, and effective training. (Please note: This is not an alternative to the STEP training program offered by KU HR).

Campus Climate

The goal is to strive to foster a positive campus climate for Operations employees by developing and implementing an evidence-based action plan. This plan will address and revise any existing policies, practices, and procedures that may hinder access, success, respect, and a sense of belonging among all Operations employees. The goal is to create a work environment where every employee feels valued and supported.

Visitor Experience

Measure and enhance the Jayhawk Welcome Center visitor experience through data collection and engagement opportunities.

Alumni Community

Refine the affinity network strategy to support the development and expansion of alumni communities connected to KU.

Enhancing Student Retention through Targeted Support Programs

Address student retention challenges by developing targeted support programs for at-risk students within the School of Professional Studies.

Expanding Professional Development Opportunities for Non-Traditional Students

Expand career development resources and services to address the unique needs of non-traditional students, including working professionals and adult learners.

Make the Onboarding Process Effective for New Faculty and Staff

The climate survey conducted in Spring 2022 and Spring 2024 indicates that there are areas in which new faculty and staff onboarding at the school could be improved. 

Professional Development Opportunities for Faculty

The climate survey conducted in spring 2022 and spring 2024 indicate that there are areas in which faculty development in the school could be improved. We would like to focus on developing an effective mentoring program for the new faculty. 

Increase Access for Students of Different Backgrounds to Degree Programs at the School

In the wake of the SCOTUS decision on affirmative action, it has become urgent to develop strategies for recruiting a diverse group of students to our degree programs in a lawful manner. We would like to develop strategies that the school’s recruitment personnel could effectively use for this purpose.

Develop Graduate Mentoring Program

Develop a Graduate Mentoring Program to support faculty and gaduate student success. This goal is being enacted in partnership with the Office of Graduate Studies.

Increase Policy Knowledge and Awareness

Develop policy education resources and support for units that increases transparency and promotes faculty awareness and understanding. Additionally, assists with the review and tracking of policy to ensure alignment between the University and units.

Faculty Development

Develop faculty development programming opportunities to support faculty growth and success.